Z Society Recognition

On October 28th, Higher Grouds received the following acknowledgment from the Z Society at each of our UVA Medical Center locations:

The Z Society

3711

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members"

- Coretta Scott King

October 2025

To Higher Grounds,

For over 30 years, your humble cart has stood as a steady beacon within the walls of UVA Health, a familiar light in a place where compassion and perseverance intertwine each day. What you offer is not simply coffee, but a ritual of warmth and renewal for those who pass through your care. In every pour, there is kindness; in every greeting, a reminder that grace can be found in even the smallest exchanges.

In the hurried rhythm of the hospital, where hope and heartbreak often share the same hallway, your presence brings stillness. You have nourished healers, comforted families, and lifted spirits when the hour was early and the day was long. Through your cheerful words and steadfast service, you have become part of the quiet fabric that holds this place together.

It is said that a community is built not by grand gestures, but by small acts done with great love. You embody that truth. Your quick hands, gentle smiles, and generous hearts remind us that service, when offered with sincerity, becomes something sacred. The five million cups you have poured are not just fuel for the weary, but vessels of care, each one carrying a touch of humanity that brightens even the hardest days.

The Z Society was founded at the University of Virginia in 1892, with the purpose of quietly recognizing and uplifting those who embody the highest ideals of service, character, and unity. Our members remain anonymous not to conceal, but to illuminate; to turn attention away from ourselves and toward those who inspire the University's collective good.

To those who know you, Higher Grounds is more than a coffee stand; it is a sanctuary of comfort, a space where the simplest act of kindness becomes profound. The Z Society recognizes the work and sacrifice you have dedicated to the UVA Health and Charlottesville community. We thank you.

Always remember and never forget, the joy is in the journey.

Mystically,

3711

University of Virginia

Since we received this acknowledgment without knowing exactly who to thank, I will do so publicly. Your words were truly flattering, kind, and generous. More importantly for Higher Grounds, we felt genuinely seen. Our work within the incredible environment of the UVA Medical Center has always been about more than just selling a quality product at a fair price and providing excellent service. It has been about building relationships and offering a brief refuge for everyone who passes through those doors. We aim to be a fleeting bright spot in each of our customers' days. Receiving this tribute from ‘Unseen Eyes’ tells us we are living up to the mission we set for ourselves over 30 years ago.

Thank you sincerely, from all of us at Higher Grounds, who truly take pride in the sense of accomplishment that this gesture brings.

- Joe Trager